Dundas Valley Conservation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dundas Valley Conservation Area |
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Entrance to the Conservation Area in October 2020
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| Location | Canada |
| Nearest city | Hamilton, Ontario |
| Area | 1200 ha |
| Established | 1970 |
| Governing body | Hamilton Conservation Authority |
The Dundas Valley Conservation Area is a huge natural space found on the Niagara Escarpment in Dundas, Ontario. This area is part of Hamilton, Ontario. The Hamilton Conservation Authority owns and manages this beautiful place.
It has a massive 40-kilometre network of trails. These trails connect to the famous Bruce Trail. The conservation area also includes the start of the Hamilton-Brantford-Cambridge Trails. This was Canada's first fully developed trail system for different uses, linking cities together. It's even part of the larger Trans Canada Trail.
What Makes Dundas Valley Unique?
The main feature of this area is the Dundas Valley itself. It was formed a very long time ago, even before the last ice age. The Niagara Escarpment was carved out by natural forces like water and wind.
How Was the Valley Formed?
The last big ice age, called the Wisconsin Glaciation, helped shape the valley even more. Huge glaciers moved across the land, digging out the earth. When the glaciers melted, they left behind lots of rock and dirt. This created the bumpy hills and hollows you see today. These are called kames and kettles, which are special landforms left by glaciers.
Discovering Dundas Valley's Past
The Dundas Valley has a rich history with interesting stories and old buildings.
The Sulphur Springs Hotel: A Healing Place?
Long ago, people found a special spring in the valley. The water from this spring smelled like sulphur. In the late 1880s, a hotel called the Sulphur Springs Hotel was built here. It had a mineral spa because people believed sulphur water could cure illnesses. It was a very popular spot for summer vacations!
Why Did the Hotel Close?
Sadly, the hotel was damaged by two fires and closed in 1910. The original spring fountain was built in 1820 from cast iron. It was replaced with a cement one in 1850. After it fell apart, it was fixed up again in 1972.
The Hermitage: A Grand Old Mansion
In 1855, a man named George Gordon Browne Leith came from Scotland. He built a magnificent stone mansion called The Hermitage. The building materials were found right nearby. Bricks were made from clay in the Dundas Valley. Limestone was taken from a quarry near the Credit River.
What Happened to The Hermitage?
The Hermitage mansion burned down in 1934. After the fire, Leith's daughter built a much smaller house among the ruins. She lived there until she passed away in 1942. To keep the ruins from falling apart even more, wooden supports were added to stabilize them.
The Trail Centre: Your Starting Point
The Trail Centre in the conservation area looks like an old Victorian railway station. It's a modern building, but it reminds visitors of the past. Right next to it, you can see a piece of old railway track. There's also a 1929 executive coach car and a 1931 baggage car. These were given to the park by the Canadian Pacific Railway.
What Can You Do at the Trail Centre?
The railway track was no longer used after 1988. It was then turned into a rail trail, which is a path for walking and biking. Inside the Trail Centre, you'll find the Giant Rib Discovery Centre. This centre is open on weekends. It has cool displays about nature and offers education programs. You can learn all about the natural history of the Niagara Valley Escarpment!
